John Kerry warns we are not moving fast enough to meet global climate goals

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry has warned we are not moving fast enough to meet global climate goals.

On the 1 July at the Climate Innovation Forum 2021, John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, spoke of how despite the positive momentum over the last few years, we are in a 'race against time' to ensure we meet climate commitments. 

When asked by Chair Nik Gowing on the role the climate crisis will have on the economy, John Kerry said: "This represents the greatest transition in our economy since the industrial revolution."

Kerry also spoke on the increasing financial disclosure in the market place and therefore the changing nature of the allocation of capital but warned again that we are not moving fast enough. 

"We need everyone to be setting ambitious targets from 2030 to 2050 if the 1.5C Climate Target is still to be achievable. We're moving - just not fast enough."

The Climate Innovation Forum took place this week (29 June -1 July) focusing on the UK’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution – exploring how to build back better, support green jobs, and accelerate our path to net zero.

The Forum convened high level speakers from across finance, industry and government, and enjoyed some robust and energetic debates.

Our panellists expressed the need to invest out of the pandemic and grow into net zero with an investment led recovery. 

We also heard that the scale of ambition is generally very positive, but we now need action – and urgently. With Mark Carney warning that although the G7 has taken some of the necessary steps in the financial sector, there is still 'unfinished business' to reach net zero.

You can sign up now to watch John Kerry's session on demand plus hear from sustainability leaders from across the UK to boost business innovation, technological solutions and capital investment in order to close the gap between ambition and action.